Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages 2018

Gamay is a light-bodied red wine that is very similar to Pinot Noir. Gamay and Pinot Noir are similar in that both have relatively high in acidity and have aromas and flavors of red fruits. But Gamay wines typically tend to be more floral and less rich on the mid-palate compared to Pinot Noir. This cousin of Pinot Noir is the main variety grown in France's Beaujolais region, just south of Burgundy.

Beaujolais produces about 75% of the world's Gamay wine, with a large portion being 'basic' wines labeled "Beaujolais" or "Beaujolais Nouveau." The higher-end Beaujolais wines come from Beaujolais-Villages, the hilly northern part of the region, and the Crus, the ten distinct communes that produce the most superior Beaujolais wine often with age-worthy characteristics found in red Burgundy. These two levels of higher-quality Beaujolais wines are undervalued (sometimes costing just a few more bucks than the Nouveau wines) and offer high quality at very affordable prices.

My tasting notes on the Domaine Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages 2018 ($29):

• See & Swirl: The wine has a deep red color with a blueish tint. It also has some long legs.

• Sniff: It has fruity aromas of strawberry jam, cherry, raspberry, and plum with notes of rose petals, wet stones, and bread. It's elegant on the nose with nicely balanced aromas of fruits, flowers, and minerals.

• Sip & Savor: This is a delicious light-bodied wine with fresh red fruit-forward flavors of cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and plum. It has high acidity and mild, silky tannins with subtle sweetness. The finish is very smooth with soft, round tannins and subtle notes of bread and minerals. With a little bit of air, the floral notes become more pronounced as well. This is a delightful wine that is not only delicious, but also classy and elegant, and it would pair well with pretty much any kind of food.

For anyone craving light and fresh red wine during this hot summer, how about a bottle of Beaujolais?